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Kathy456 Posted 20 years ago
Vocabulary

Float vs Life Buoy

0Hi,02br
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00When people/kids learn how to swim, they very often carry a kind of "circle" on the beach. I've tried to find an appropriate word for that "circle" and "float" & "life buoy" seem to be the right ones. However, it seems to me that "life buoy" sounds too serious while "float" refers to something different.02br
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00Could someone help me with the choice of the right word?02br
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00Thanks.02br
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00Kathy0-
  

Top answer

0The circular, hard thing is a life preserver. " Sometimes the best thing you can do to sound natural is to use phrases like "floatie thingie" - although I'd probably not use that in formal writing. 0-

— BarbaraPA

  • 0The circular, hard thing is a life preserver.
  • " Sometimes the best thing you can do to sound natural is to use phrases like "floatie thingie" - although I'd probably not use that in formal writing.
  • 0-
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4 Answers
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0The circular, hard thing is a life preserver. Those blow-up things that you put on a child's arms are called "water wings" or "floaties." Sometimes the best thing you can do to sound natural is to use phrases like "floatie thingie" - although I'd probably not use that in formal writing. I suppose "floatation device" would serve in most contexts where a little more formality is required.0-
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0 Thanks, Barb. 0-
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0 When you go to amusement parks, they have those floatation devices where you can place yourself and float down a "lazy river." They are called the tube or inner tube (just like the tube from inside a tire - in the olden days). 0-
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0 In British English the kids' circles are called 'rubber rings'. 0-
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